Jessie + Sumyi of Little Locals can be found on Instagram - @little.locals

There is no other quick resource for LA moms quite like Little Locals. Jessie + Sumyi do all the research, navigation and organizing so all that is required of you is safely driving to XYZ location and having fun.

Jessie is a long-time friend and she pulled together a delightful Culver City community guide exclusively for us. Enjoy!

MORNING: Take the metro toThe Platform in Culver City for yummy food and great shopping - the area is beautifully designed with little pockets for games of tag or an outdoor snack. Hint: Sign up for their newsletter to stay abreast of daytime events such as clothing pop-up's, mini weekend markets, restaurant pop-up's etc. (They also host many nighttime events such as Wellness Wednesdays which always bring in the most interesting speakers).

PRE-LUNCH: Continue at Platform! There is incredible shopping. We love Rabbit Ladders for unique kids' clothes, toys and gifts, Aesop for incredible products, and Poketo for beautiful clothes, accessories and home goods

LUNCH: Loqui for tacos! Their tortillas are mindblowing - handmade in house. And now, you can finally buy a pack of tortillas to take home! Also check out Van Leeuwenfor family-pleasing ice cream.

AFTERNOON: For infants to around 18 months, we recommend the indeed magical, Magic Forest in Culver CIty. It's a waldorf inpsired playspace with natural fiber toys, a coffe bar, lunch room and birthday party buy-out packages. It's clean, friendly, and small. Perfect little lookers, crawlers or new walkers. Not too far from there, we love Zooga Yoga for music and dance classes.

EARLY EVENING/ DINNER: Pitfire Pizza is the perfect kids dinner spot - in the early hours it's filled with kids of all ages. Little ones can get free packs of multi-colored clay rather than crayons. Genius! Be sure to get their old fashioned soft serve ice cream for dessert! Just a few blocks away is Culver West Park to run off that sugar energy. They have great climbing structures, slides, swings (a tire swing! so vintage!) a beautiful lawn and mini bike path. The path is perfect for learning to ride!

BONUS TIPS: A tucked away fountain perfect for splashing is Lion's Fountain, downtown Culver City in the plaza - directly in front of the theater. Our favorite kid-friendly restaurant in that area is Cafe Vida. They have such fresh and healthy options. it used to be off the radar but has been discovered and quite busy during typical meal hours.

Thank you J + S for all your wisdom. Be sure to follow them for more amazing day activities and local suggestions for you and your littles!

There are so many options for the perfect summer day with your kids. This community guide is geared towards younger (5 and under) children but also includes some options for school age kids as well. The goal here was to keep things simple, follow your little one's lead (as Maria shared here as well) and to enjoy the time spent with each other. For Moms that stay in the home for work, it is always a fun challenge to find new activities that don't cost an arm + a leg. Even for those Mamas that work outside the home, the weekend schedule fills up fast so accessibility is key. Many of the below activities are either free or very budget friendly!

LUNCH: Pack it up + bring it with you! Less stops along the way makes for uninterrupted play time at the parks. We find the best produce at Sprouts Grocer or Farmer's Market and get most of our bulk/non-pershiable items from Thrive Market. We are spoiled in California to have such amazing produce, especially in the summer. The more the variety you offer, the better. Bite sizes are always fun with the littles.

AFTERNOON + DINNER: For those with little ones that still nap, the extended sunlight makes afternoon adventuring still so much fun. If we are near Bixby Knolls, a good romp around Rancho Los Alamitos or a class at Averyboo Arts (offerings for kids 2-12 yrs old). Dinner lately is best at Steelcraft so no overthinking needs to happen to find food everyone likes. Typically there are live musicians or fun music playing for added dancing on the mini stage - kids love it! An afternoon trip to the Belmont Heights / Bluff Heights area usually includes a stop at the Farmer's Market on Tuesdays (Bixby Park) or Wednesdays (Marine Stadium). We are absolutely in love with the summer menu at Veggie Grill (yes, we go there A LOT) and usually call in a dinner order to then take to the beach or eat at their outside patio at Marina Marketplace.

There is an amazing poem we recently came across that speaks to the beauty of summer nights with little ones. It is by Robert L. Stevenson, below.

BED IN SUMMERIn winter I get up at nightAnd dress by yellow candle-light. In summer, quite the other way, I have to go to bed by day.I have to go to bed and seeThe birds still hopping on the tree, Or hear the grown-up people’s feetStill going past me in the street.And does it not seem hard to you, When all the sky is clear and blue, And I should like so much to play, To have to go to bed by day?

Chances are if you're reading this, "free days" sans kids or any major responsibilities to take care of, are very rare. Need a day this summer to refuel and refill? We've compiled a list of some favorite places in Long Beach that all hit the bill for the Best Day Ever for just you.

MORNING: A stop at Pilates X for one of their morning classes. Being new to Pilates is more than fine here - their entire team is so warm and welcoming. The 5:45AM start for some classes during the week is hugely helpful to get the day started right. Their app makes scheduling a breeze too.

LATE MORNING: It is a good thing when your Instagram stalking pays off. Like many, we patiently watched as The Merchant storefront was painted and looked at their feed weekly to see when they would open. Their handmade baked goods and Stumptown coffee lure you in but its the inviting seating (inside + out!) that keeps you there. This is an ideal place to read, write or just enjoy some good friendly company. If you're there on the weekends, be sure to also check out their Provisions shop filled with insane amounts of perfectly curated gifts and snacks. (Note - if you bring the kiddos, there is a roomy bathroom and bottled drinks to choose from!).

AFTERNOON: Vintage shopping in Long Beach is so.much.fun. Here are just a few of our favorite spots - but there are many more in town.Urban Americana: If you're looking for a specific furniture piece, they most likely have it. If you're looking for inspiration, be prepared to stay a while!6th & Detroit: Michelle makes shopping such a breeze since her store is perfectly styled, easy peasy parking out front and a team that is really helpful when you need someone to just decide for you.Retro Row: A good idea is to start at Salud juice and then head east down 4th Street for several vintage clothing and furniture stops.

EVENING: Grab some small plates to share + hand crafted cocktails at the yummy Lola's on 4th Street!

Feeling tinges of guilt for considering a whole day to yourself? Please don't! Soak up every moment of exploring Long Beach and settling into the idea of experiencing something new "just because".

"The relationship you have with yourself sets the tone for every other relationship you have" - Jane Travis

I asked my husband a personal question right before he was heading to bed the other night. I asked him to write a "little something" about how it feels to be a Dad today in such weird political times. He rolled his eyes, of course. But then he got behind the laptop and just started typing away. What he had to say really hit me in the gut, in a most perfect way. I'm opening this to you all today because being a Dad has its own set of "feels" that aren't often talked about in the way us Moms share together. I hope you find it to be as powerful and encouraging as I do! Happy Father's Day to all the Dads, Grandpas, Uncles, Brothers, Cousins and all the amazing role models out there.

What does it mean to be a Dad, right now, in this moment, in 2017?

A lot of times, it means being in awe. In awe of my wife, who spends much more time with our daughter than I do, and as a result has to deal with way more of the hard stuff (tantrums, potty training, throwing food, days without naps, etc. etc. etc.) than I do. In awe of my daughter, who is somehow 2 years old going on 20, and is already capable of making me laugh, cry, panic, rejoice, THINK and FEEL more than anyone who has only been around for that short of a time possibly should be. And in awe of myself, because after roughly 34 years of thinking only about that same self, that person seems like such a distant memory I can hardly remember what being him was ever even like. It is constantly surprising and amazing to hear my daughter call me “Daddy” and think to myself, “That’s me.” No matter what year it is, that will always be astonishing to me in the best way possible.

And yet, it isn’t just any year. And these do not seem to be ordinary times. So being a Dad right now, in this moment, in 2017, makes me think about what we are doing- to ourselves, to our future, to the planet- and wonder how I can somehow make a difference in whatever small way I can. Because like any parent, I want more for my daughter than I was given, which was quite a lot. And on a lot of days it seems like we are leaving our kids less and less.

So I think more than anything being a Dad right now means trying to create as much meaning as I can, in little ways, every day. It means singing the songs from “Moana” out loud in the car with my daughter for the hundredth time like I’m auditioning to actually be in the movie. It means looking up new recipes online to try and figure out how to sneak some more greens into her lunches and dinners, even though I know she is not going to eat zucchini in any form, ever. It means letting her figure out where the puzzle pieces go instead of showing her myself, even though she gets frustrated. A good friend of mine who also happens to be a great Dad once told me, “Like anything that’s worthwhile, it’s hard.” But hopefully all those little things add up and make a big difference someday.

Because I think a good Dad, in any moment and any year, ultimately shows their child through example and practice that they can be anything. So what does it mean to be a Dad, right now, in this moment, in 2017?

Our household is slowly transitioning into summer schedule mode. Part of me is super excited but there is a small and very loud voice in my mind that is making me nervous. How many hours of "light programing" does my little really need each week? Am I going to go mad by July? Thankfully Maria from The Family Nest is set the record straight and has some encouraging words and tips going into the summer months!

What is your biggest piece of advice for Moms this Summer so they don't face fatigue over the same activities and routines. How can they switch things up?Take it easy and follow your child's lead. Summer doesn't have to be jammed pack with activities. I think many times we moms over think things and get caught up with hustle of making sure kids aren't bored. But, research has proven to be quite the opposite; children need time to be bored. They need some quite, slow and unplanned time. This allows them to be creative, resourceful and innovative. Instead of planning all the activities, ask them what they would like to explore or what new hobbies they would like learn, and most importantly what will make them excited! Some of our favorite activities at home include making some homemade scented playdough, animal-tracknature walk, beach time and lots of homemade cooking!

Do you have a favorite activity that involves food? Why is it so important to be engaging in the kitchen?Yes! I love cooking, especially with my little one. We pretty much cook everything! But one of our favorites is making smoothies. We love making our favorite peanut- butter oatmeal smoothie. We also enjoy making our own hummus. I can't stress enough how important it is for children to partake in meal preparation. There's so much to be learned in the kitchen! In the kitchen they can learn about measurements, cause and effect, safety, proper use of kitchen utensils and most importantly, appreciation for food. By cooking with our little ones, we are showing them the importance of taking care of our earth, our families and ourselves.

What type of programs do you have going on this Summer at The Family Nest?This Summer we have many exciting programs - all of which you can read about HERE. We have Art class & Sensory class for our young toddlers ( this class requiresparent participation) For the more independent toddler we have our toddler camp(a 2 hour drop-off program) For preschoolers we have our popular Bilingual Summer Camp. Our camps are 3 days a week for 3 hours (Drop-off program).In addition, we just added our Global Camp and STEM (Science -Technology - Engineering -Math) All of camps are bilingual and project-based.

What are your favorite bilingual books that families can read at home with their little ones?Some of our all time favorite books come from Barefoot Books. They have a great selection of Bilingual Children'sbooks. I love the illustrations and the diversity. Some of my favorites are "vivimos en la granja", " De paseo por la selva" and "Cha Cha cha". I also enjoy books from CombelEditorial they have amazing books as well. Such as "el cocodrilo verde", "el domingo que", " veo, veo" and many more! We also enjoy Lil Libros by Patty Rodriquez & Ariana Stein.

Mom Crushes are strange and I wasn't really sure if they were real thing but then I met Maria and I realized they could be. This woman is incredibly impressive - weaving her role as wife, mother and business owner with such grace. Her second "little one" is The Family Nest, a bilingual early education center nestled on Redondo Avenue just adjacent to Wild Child Party. The Family Nest is the only early education center currently listed on our site and that is because Maria has so closely crafted an environment for little ones and their families that is welcoming and enriching. There truly is nothing else exactly like it in Long Beach. Below is a bit more from Maria and her adorable son, Massimo!

Describe how Motherhood has changed from you.Motherhood has taught me to truly love unconditionally. To not worry about being perfect. After a tough five-day labor that ended in an emergency C-Section, every part of me was truly tested and honestly from that moment on I was (a) changed. It was the most difficult time but it was the beginning of what Motherhood would become. At the beginning I was hard on myself, and I had an enormous guilt for not having a natural birth. I had the most perfect plan and none of it happened as planned. This was the beginning of learning to let go of the things I felt were important in the past, and focusing on now and the future of my beautiful, healthy baby boy.

What drew you towards the Reggio Emilia principles? How do you feel The Family Nest separates itself from other toddler + young children programs in Long Beach?Additionally, where would you like to take your business?I love the way this philosophy views the child. I love that children in the Reggio Emilia are seen as capable, strong, and resilient; rich with wonder and knowledge. I love the idea that children learn through the 100 languages, meaning there’s more than one way of learning. In Reggio children are seen as citizens with their own ideas, curiosity and their own voice. The Family Nest is a bilingual early education program that focuses on the child as a whole. We want children and caregivers to not only build a love for learning but most importantly we want them to display compassion, care for our environment and our community. We want children feel free to explore at their own pace and interest. At The Family Nest we create an environment that sparks curiosity and allows children to construct their own knowledge. We celebrate diversity and promote bilingual education. I would love to expand our services by collaborating with other experts in the field. And expand to other communities.

Let's chat about my favorite word - Community. What is your favorite thing about living in Long Beach?Do you feel there is a shift in the local ethos about wellness and healthy lifestyles for our children (and entire families)? How do you think we can create more of these conversations? I truly love the vibrant, "small town" feel many of the communities in Long Beach have. It is also a great place for young families. I love that you can find almost anything, from good eats to aquariums to child-friendly lagoons. Long Beach is becoming one of most diverse, family friendly and up and coming cities. I think we are seeing some great steps towards wellness and healthy lifestyles. I know Long Beach has great resources such community gardens in different neighborhoods, holistic living fairs and annual beach streets to promote active lifestyles. I do, however, feel we can do a much better job in our public schools. We can do more advocating for healthy living, physical activity, and mental wellness in public schools. I feel that not all communities are as involved, and therefore the focus should be parent involvement. By inviting and making parents part of the discussion we can begin towards finding better avenues to best serve these families.

Every Mother has their own system or guiding principles when it comes to balancing work and Mommy duties. Would you mind sharing yours?This is a tough one! I feel like I'm still trying to balance it all. But what I can say is this - my family comes first before anything else. I learned to let go of unnecessary obligations that many times I unnecessarily put on myself. I’m also learning to never say no to help! Being the person that I am, I feel I can do it all - I can cook, clean, work and still have plenty of time to do "fun" things. But the truth is, it’s difficult. I have learned to not be ashamed to ask for help. I am extremely blessed to have amazing friends & family that are more than willing to help and support me.

Bet you have mom crush now too, don't ya?Later this week we'll share more from Maria and she will be highlighting her "survival tips" for the summer season with kids - big and small!

When putting this post together I realized there was so much to highlight. Johanna has invested her time into the most meaningful ways and as a result, has created a full, purpose driven life. She displays how a heaping dose of grit mixed with a lot of grace is the way to go. Sadly she doesn't drink coffee right now but I'm sure once Lila is here, she'll soon add that to her lineup: Grit, Grace, Coffee. Hear more from her below:

Do you have a system or guiding principles for creating balance in your life?I think balance is so hard to achieve. It's hard without family, so I can imagine how much more difficult it will be when Lila gets here... I really always take balance from God. For me, He is the core of everything I do. All my work, my being a loving wife, friend, mom, and activist flows from Him. When God is at the center, it's easier for me to know and acknowledge when something gets out of whack and then work to (make) it right again.

Long Beach's sense of community has blossomed in many ways over the last few years and some of that can be attributed to social media. Who are your favorite small businesses or local personalities to follow?I agree. It's been a joy to see it change over the four years since we've moved. I really love following Michelle Qazi at 6th & Detroit. She is helping me design Lila's nursery and is unbelievably talented. My dear friend Jessie Artigue is such an inspiration too. You can catch her at Style and Pepper and hosting the podcast, Marriage is Funny. I spend a lot of time in the Arts District between Shop Anneise, Make Collectives, Aye Que Vintage and 6th & Detroit. For baby stuff, I love Shop Sweet Threads and Family Store.

What are your favorite clothing brands now that you're pregnant? I'm always a sucker for Elizabeth Suzann out of Nashville! Her clothes have been perfect for transitioning into maternity wear. I also found an amazing vintage dress from Aye Que Vintage in the arts district and the perfect summer dress by Knot Sisters that I got at Prism Boutique in Long Beach. But I've been wearing mostly dresses and yoga pants.

Last Question! "It Takes a Village" or "Build your Tribe" - both phrases often get used when describing the importance of: _________________Authentic Community

Thank you J for your time and for being an incredible mamma-to-be fashion model for us. We cannot wait for Baby Lila. xx

Johanna is the type of woman you inspires you after even the shortest, flyby conversation. She is kind, open and unapologetically well-read. These types of women are natural connectors so it's no surprise that despite not living in Long Beach for too long, she has made incredible relationships within the community. Here we chat about her exciting new adventure into Motherhood, her passion to help other women + how she attempts to balance life's demands.

What is your definition of a day well spent here in Long Beach?There are so many different ways to have good days here! My perfect day starts with a walk or bike ride to Lord Windsor for a cup of coffee (decaf right now). Then I work from home which is such a dream. I love our home office. My husband Brian built all the furniture and it’s super inspiring place for me to be. Around lunch, I take a break to walk Rufio, my Maltese, down by the ocean. At 4:00 I bike over to Gym Number 4 (one of my favorite places to be) for a good hard workout. Then if it’s date night we might walk and catch a movie at the Art House Theater and grab some delish grub at Lola’s or The Social List.

How has the anticipation of becoming a Mother altered your daily routine?Well, I've been really sick this entire pregnancy. I was put on bed rest in my first trimester and back on bed rest again, so it changed everything! I'm very independent and love connecting with close friends, and already I have had to rely on people so much more. Not to mention, my social life has pretty much disappeared. Ha! Which has actually been okay for this stage in life.

Tell us about your journey to co-founding The MEND Project. Can you walk us through the decision making process to blaze your own non-profit path? I started The MEND Project with Annette Oltmans, our Principle Founder, in 2016, so it was well before Lila was even a thought. But helping launch a new non profit was just the perfect next step in my own career and personal journey. I have always been very passionate about fighting for human rights, I spent five years working in anti-trafficking with the largest anti-trafficking org in the world. And that was an amazing experience. But personally, I was a victim of child sexual assault and also domestic violence. What I’ve learned over the course of my life, is that it is very easy for us to see injustice taking place in other countries, but it is much more difficult to see and acknowledge abuse and injustice here in our own backyard, in our communities, families, churches, etc. So we started The MEND Project to begin addressing issues of abuse that take place here, and also to teach people how to respond to victims of abuse with compassion rather than judgement. The MEND Project is everything I wish I had as a victim of abuse desperately searching for clarity and answers. So, for me it was a no-brainer to jump in and help Annette start it and hopefully help other women and children who have gone through similar circumstances find healing and redemption. I’m so excited already by the incredible response we have received!

Your life is very full! What are your favorite ways to take time for yourself?I read a lot. Like devour novels. I pray every day, and I gotta get my nails done every two weeks. Hannah at Rex Nails is the best.*Currently on Johanna's nightstand are two interesting books - Lianne Moriarty's The Husband's Secret and Richard Rohr's The Enneagram.

Looking forward to sharing more about this multi-faceted trailblazer and soon-to-be-Mommy on the blog next week (and Rufio, too, naturally)!

All four seasons are typically awesome when you live in a beach-hugging city in Southern California. A Summer in Long Beach though, that's something extra special. Afternoons are often well spent playing in the sand or by the pool. Long bike rides all across town. Ice cream shop hoppin' from Bixby Knolls to Belmont Shore. When there is a moment to breath and have some free time, it is such a refreshing luxury to pick up a good book. No "how-to" kid books here, these are all meant to nurture our brains and hearts without having to worry if you're doing everything right! The below are our most anticipated books for the season (and yes, a few have been on the bookshelves for a while. Blame #MomLife for not getting to them sooner!)

1. If you loved Girls, word on the street is that you must check out Fly Meby Daniel Riley

3. Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur ... because you or someone you know has most likely pinned her beautiful words on a board or re-grammed her prose on Instagram. In our opinion, reading from the book feels best.

4. The movie "Arrival" was a 2016 favorite. Did you know it's storyline was based on a series of tales called Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang? You do now.

5. Since the arguments surrounding the merits of science seem so deafening lately, we think its a good idea to check out Astrophysics for People in a Hurryby Neil deGrasse Tyson. Your brain does enough big thinking throughout the day, so take in the big ideas in easy to digest bites. And you may even impress your kids with your galactic knowledge!

6. Curling up with sticky notes and new cookbooks can be really fun when you have a good option in hand. Check out this stunning new one, Simple Fare: Spring and Summerby Karen Mordechai for your next foodie gathering.

It was really an honor to share the interview process for this blog with Jocelyn when she was still pregnant with her second child. The photos that were captured several months ago by Lyndsey are stunning and it's lovely to look back on them now - even more so since Opal Joy was born on just less than two weeks ago! I hope you enjoy the second part of our discussion below. It is honest and full of her heart.

Can you tell us a bit about your career journey? How did you become a small business owner? I started offering the healing arts about 8 years ago. In retrospect, it was in direct response to experiencing a necessary and life-changing abortion. I knew I wanted healing with that and a slew of other tragedies that needed acute attention. Around that time of grief I was led to massage therapy. I started practicing yoga 7 years before that, which transpired at the therapeutic boarding school I attended for 22 months in the Cascade Mountain range. (At around) age 16, I was exposed to a variety of holistic health, meditation, and I met my first Yoga instructor there, Rosemarie! I was removed from pop culture, currency exchange and most versions of free will. This helped to shape my will power and aligned me with my mindfulness path. After Massage Therapy school, I attended Cloud Nine Yoga teacher training where I met my daughter's father which led to Motherhood! Motherhood is why I opened Sacred Roots. I needed an office to practice out of, Lola (my daughter) claimed our home as her domain and there she was, effortlessly nudging me into professionalism. I teamed up with my partners and everything fell into place.

Where do you plan to take Sacred Roots Holistic Healing in the future?I see Sacred Roots as a debut business, from it so many projects and ideas have been born - not just by me, also from all our practitioners and specialists. Last year I wrote the Sacred Self Care course- our signature class, with the help of SR Founders Jenny Ahn and Kailey Waite, we created this course to help integrate holistic wellness into everyday life. Launching this course bore one-on-one Self Care Coaching and the creation of our Self Care programs that combine meditation, private yoga, massage therapy and detoxification. Self Care Coaching is similar to a personal trainer of the Spirit, a mindfulness tutor, a gentle guide to promote the development of your own Self Care tools. This concept is exciting and gives me a venue to share the gifts my teachers have offered me.

Sacred Roots is a big part of the immediate community in Belmont Heights. What is your favorite thing about living here in Long Beach?I love the variety of Long Beach and the "mom and pop-ness" of our communities. I feel like we have a lot of alternate education options for our children here and parents are consciously choosing to raise their own children rather than paying someone else to do a majority of the dirty work (which is sometimes necessary but not always).The parents I meet in Long Beach are not trying to prove they have bred an award winning specimen, they are in celebration of the pure joy and love that their child IS. That perspective opens up the collective consciousness and evolution of our Children and our development as parents. Let's face it, our kids are here to teach us, the more we step out of their way, the more illumination we find.

What is your advice to Mothers that are new to Long Beach or are new to Motherhood and are looking for fresh ways to connect to the city?There are so many ways to connect with like minded moms, it just takes the willingness to move outside some comfort zones and toward your highest joy. Connect with what inspires you and you will find your tribe.

That, my friends, is like drinking a cold glass of water. What a refreshing outlook on life! Many thanks to Jocelyn for her time and congratulations on your newest addition.